Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
How John Willett OF Austin Inter.
viewed Senator C0ekrell-His 0pin.
ions OF Senatorial Hauteur.
The Nicarauguan Canal Frsaty-A New
Departure In Delivering Great
Daily Newspapers.
Correspondence of the Gazette


congress on his pier bill, and can be seen
about the Hobbies and committee-rooms
of the capitol every Gay. He is man of
perhaps fifty-seven summers, yet his step
is as light and quick as boy of twenty.
He has quick, nervous temperament,
talks in jerky yet impressive way, and
makes friends wherever he goes. His
whole heart is in the accomplishment of
his great scheme to build this pier far out
into the gulf and revolutionize the ship
ping and carrying trade of the sc southwest
coast. You cannot finch his faith in the
ultimate Epassage of his measure by
anything you may say as to the
brevity of the session and the
probability that congress would not have
time to consider within the seven weeks
now remaining the important measure
which Mr.. Willett proposed to inaugu
rate. He has suite OF rooms at the Ma
tional hotel where he welcomes his
friends in true Texan style. His "heart
is open as the day for melting charity"
and there is not newsboy Or hootblack
between his hotel aud the capitol who
has not been the recipient of his bounty.
The other day Willett went over to the
senate with card of introduction to
Senator Cockrell of Missouri. The latter
is rather punctillious, and is, besides, q
very busy man, and has innumerabIe de-
mands on his time from his own con-
stituents. Willett sent in his card by
the page at the visitors door, and at
down in the finest lobby of the entire
capitol, richly decorated and gilded, to
await the coming of the staid and stately
Cockrell. Our Texas friend waited per-
haps five minutes, when the page returned
and said;
"Senator Cockrell says to send IN your
bill"
"By the powers of heaven" replied
Willett, "you 90 and tell Mr.. COckrell
that don't go around with my pockets
loaded with bills
TRe boy returned and delivered this
message to the senator, vino sent back
word Tor Mr.. Willett to wait N the mar
/ BILE room and he would STE him be and
I bye After receiving this announcement
Willett concluded that the senator had
repented his first hasty answer, and
would soon appear on the scene. He en-
lightened his knowledge of human affairs
by perusing two copies of THE GAZETTE
handed him by your correspondent, and
became so interested in its columns that
| over an hour had slipped away. Taking
out his watch to see il he was not deceiv-
ed, he jumped three feet from his chair,
few out OF the marble room with his pep
pered cloth cost tails at an angle of forty
five degrees, and calculated 10 the page
as he hurried by:
"Tell Cockrsll when he wants to see
l / fnrNft hn : nd
off ne flew TO the house, where he knew
an audience always awaited him with any
member to whom be sent his card. Will
lett is not favorably impressed with the
senior senator from Missouri, and if he
meets the latter outside the senate some
dsy there will be wordy war, in which
our Texas friend will take a conspicuous
part.
| Though the secret sessions of the SEN
ate are very closely guarded, enough has
| leaked out concerning that held on Fri
day last, and the debate which ensued, to
make it matter OF regret that the infor-
nation laid before the senate cannot be
given TO the whole country. The senate
welt into secret session to consider a
resolution authorizing the president to
e ter into negotiations with the Nlcarau-
guam government for the purpose of
| obtaining right to construct
an iater-oceanic canal across
that state. The resolution is due to the
watchfui care of the state department,
which has positive evidence that the
Lesseps scheme will be backed up by the
government OF France whenever occasion
makes it necessary to do SO. The intrigue
betWt en- the French and certain Central
American politicians is now understood,
and 1t was thought the United States
had better take immediate measures for
its protection. NJ. Lesseps is simply re-
peatiDg in his second venture the steps
TAX en- TO secure the SueZ concession from
the Khedive Ismali and to gain the ap-
proval of the prime minister of the sultan.
1t seems that part of Minister McLane's
busine S on his visit to America last sum-
mer was to inform the secretary of state
more fully concerning the willy old
Frenchman's intentions, and to urge
upon our government thst it lose no time
in obtaining the right from Nicaragua to
construct an American canal across the
isthmus. We, as a nation, have been
slow to act upon this important matter,
and IL is fortunate that beginning bas
been made that may lead to practical re-
suits.
The New York Daily News, bright
and enter3risiug journal, has inaugurated
new system of delivering their papers
to subscribers. They have purchased
some stables on West Forty-eight street,
which are filled with fast horses and
handsome wagons for service in the de-
livery of the News. This is the only es-
adjustment of the kind in this country.
Tie president is again in the best of
health and spirits, and has been able
during the past week to attend to all of
the duties Of his office, including the very
important one of Misunderstanding in the
East room. Mr.. Cleveland appears to en-
joy exceedingly these good-natured con-
ferences with the people who visit TIE
White House and have their little say
to the chief magistrate. 1t is leasant to
think of the reports that will be made 10
the people at home as to "What told
the president"
The first state reception for the year
1887 at the White House was held on
Thursday evening. 1t was very sue
cessful affair, and reflected great credit
upon all concerned. The most elaborate
preparations in the way of decorations
were made. Aside from the members of
the diplomatic corps, arrayed in their
gorgeous uniforms, resplendent with gold
lace, ribbons of brilliant colors and in
Vulnerable decorations, more than 2000
persons, all high in official, army and
nsVy life were presented To the Drpsi-